Al Qaeda and Jihadist Networks

1. Al Qaeda and Jihadist Networks Chapter 11

2. Learning Objectives: Chapter 11 • Describe the rise of religious terrorism and its relationship to the Soviet-Afghan War. • Summarize the important roles of Osama bin Laden and Ayman al Zawahiri. • Outline the early history of al Qaeda. • Explain the structure and operations of al Qaeda until September 11, 2001. • Summarize al Qaeda’s political theology.

3. Learning Objectives: Chapter 11 • Describe al Qaeda’s current franchise-style structure and current operational capabilities. • Outline the operations of franchises including AQAP, AQIM, and al Shabab. • Describe other forms of terrorism in Pakistan. • Summarize operations in other parts of Asia and the Pacific.

4. Cold War Origins • Saudi Arabia deemed to be an important ally to the US during the Cold War • The central focus was a country’s stance against the Soviet Union • The foundation of modern jihadist power grew from the Cold War • Militant Islamic reformers used by Western allies against communist countries

5. The Soviet-Afghan War • Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan • State Department encouraged Arab and other Islamic allies to send money and religious puritans (mujahedeen) • The US formed an alliance with Pakistan began to train and equip the mujahedeen • The mujahedeen were not united at the end of the Soviet-Afghan War

6. The Rise of Osama bin Laden • bin Laden’s reputation began to grow as the mujahedeen searched for a continuing jihad • bin Laden was influenced by SayyidQutb’s thought (militant Islam) • Inspired by the mujahedeen of Afghanistan, bin Laden dropped out of college to join the Soviet-Afghan War

7. Bin Laden and Abdullah Azzam • bin Laden fell under the influence of Abdullah Azzam, a doctor of Islamic law • Azzam believed it was time for all Muslims to rise up and strike Satan • bin Laden financed mujahedeen operations and taught the guerrillas how to build field fortifications • bin Laden became a battlefield hero

8. Ayman al Zawahiri • Dr. Ayman al Zawahiri was born into a prominent Egyptian family in 1951 • He fell under the influence of violent religious philosophy in high school after being exposed to militant interpretations of Islam • When Sadat signed a peace treaty with Israel, Zawahiri threw himself into the resistance

9. Early History of al Qaeda • bin Laden took advantage of America’s inattention and Azzam’s waning power • bin Laden began to recruit the mujahedeen • al Zawahiri organized training camps & cells • bin Laden’s first cause was the Saudi government and its “corrupt” royal family • Saudi government allowed U.S. troops to be stationed in Saudi Arabia

10. The Death of Bin Laden • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNEIY2bhhgo Discussion: • How would you describe bin Laden’s ability to hide in the open, so to speak? • bin Laden was considered, according to the video, to be an integral part of a number of terrorist activities since 9/11 – would you say his death will curb future terrorist activities? • What do you think about the comments from some Pakistanis that US violated Pakistan sovereignty and that an unarmed man was shot?

11. The Egyptian Islamic Group • Three interrelated factors were prevalent in the rise of Islamic Group (IG): • The 1981 assassination of Anwar Sadat • The failure of Arab nationalism • The decline of Arab socialism • The IG was connected with the 1993 World Trade Center bombing • Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman

12. Egyptian Islamic Jihad • The EIJ targeted the Egyptian government • Zawahiri believed that the government represented the near enemy • The united jihadists could focus on the far enemy: Israel, the U.S., and the West • The Egyptian government cracked down, and few people stepped forward to take up EIJ’s version of jihad

13. bin Laden Returns to Afghanistan • bin Laden’s entrepreneurial efforts gave him the freedom to finance and command the al Qaeda terrorist network • U.S. intelligence linked the bomb attack in Yemen to bin Laden • bin Laden claimed that he trained and supported the troops that struck the U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter

14. Declaring War on the U.S. • Seated in front of a camera, bin Laden declared war on the United States in 1996 • In August 1998, bin Laden’s terrorists bombed the U.S. embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania • Khalid Sheik Mohammed planned 9/11 and put the people in place to carry it out

15. The Sageman-Hoffman Debate • Leadership connections are intact and dangerous. • Sageman’s theory of terrorist networks does not match the scholarly and applied literature about the subject. • Sageman has ignored important data. • Sageman focused on individual behavior instead of the way terrorist groups behave.

16. The Sageman-Hoffman Debate • Hoffman misrepresented information in Leaderless Jihad. • The threat of terrorism is evolving. • He reviews the literature on terrorism and his methodology is correct. • Leaderless Jihad focuses on groups, not individuals.

17. Degraded Leadership and the al Qaeda Franchise • Al Qaeda has become a franchise • Central leadership operates in the tribal areas of Pakistan • The Haqqani networkruns its own militias, shadow governments, protection rackets, legitimate businesses, and terrorist groups • A significant number of al Qaeda operatives killed by the drones

18. The Role of Women • The female jihad involves supporting male relatives, educating children in the ideology, providing support for operations, and assisting with financing • Bin Laden’s latest documents have called for women to actively join the jihad • Al Qaeda created a women’s suicide division in 2003

19. bin Laden Documents Online http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/05/03/151925766/coming-up-bin-laden-documents-to-go-online?ps=rs

20. The Virtual War • Communications are central to the al Qaeda strategy; over half the battle is being waged in the media • al Qaeda runs a global marketing campaign in an attempt to capture the imagination and support of Muslims • al Qaeda is quick to exploit local issues and surround them with its own theology

21. Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) • Yemen’s conflicts: • Struggle for control of the central government • Rebellious southern region • Growing presence of AQAP in the Marib • AQAP’s purpose is to unite Saudi Arabia and Yemen in one religious government • AQAP claimed responsibility for the attempted downing of a Northwest airliner outside Detroit on Christmas 2009

22. al Qaeda in the Maghreb (AQIM) • AQIM operates primarily along the coastal region outside of Algiers and in the Sahel desert area bordering Mali and Algeria • The desert provides a vast area to recruit and train potential operatives • AQIM claims loyalty and unity to al Qaeda; yet, in practice it does not take direction from Afghanistan or Pakistan

23. The Horn of Africa • Combined Joint Task Force, Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) • Detects and disrupts terrorist activities before the terrorists can commit violence • Relies heavily on military force and national security intelligence • Close relationship with indigenous forces will build a long-term partnership with governments in the Horn

24. The Horn of Africa • During the Cold War, the U.S. used Somalia as a base against communism • Somalia served as a base for some of the al Qaeda operatives • Somalia became a quagmire of violent political chaos • al Shabab began an offensive in central and southern Somalia for the purpose of imposing its narrow brand of Islamic law on Somalia

25. The Horn of Africa • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuKPR3ukGUg Discussion: • Have US War on terror policies contributed to the deadly crisis in Somalia? • This question was posed on the Website – did you find the video to answer this question? Provide examples. • How much of a role did poverty play in this conflict? Support your position.

26. al Qaeda’s Political Theology • Islam teaches universal human love, submission to God’s will, & life of morality preparing for the final judgment of God • Jihadists are doomed to failure because their theology of violence does not convey the meaning of Islam • Confusion about mainstream Islam complicates attempts to understand jihadists

27. Pakistan • Pakistan became a country in 1947 • Two international issues dominate Pakistan: nuclear weapons and relations with the United States • Some Pakistani leaders support terrorism; others want to fight the jihadists • There is tension between Pakistan and India especially in the area of Jammu and Kashmir

28. Lashkar-e-Tayibba (LeT) • LeT is best known for its attacks in India • It rejects all forms of Islam except its own interpretation • Pakistan officially banned the LeT in 2002 • It operates under a series of different names • The LeT traditionally defined its operations around the Jammu and Kashmir conflict

29. The Pakistani Taliban • Taliban seized control of Kandahar in 1994 and controlled 95% by 1997 • As the Pakistani Taliban expanded the influence of the United States waned • The struggle to limit jihadist networks has shifted from American military and intelligence efforts to diplomacy

30. Other Networks in Asia • Bangladesh • The ports of Bangladesh have become centers for international crime; the country has a strong internal jihadist movement • Thailand • The Barisan Revolusi Nasional, Coordinate (BRN-C), is leading the insurgency and carries a jihadist agenda

31. Other Networks in Asia • Indonesia • The political situation in Indonesia provided a climate for the growth of jihadist groups • The Philippines’ three terrorist groups: • Moro National Liberation Front • Moro Islamic Liberation • Abu Sayyuf

32. Chapter Take Aways • The jihadist terror network al Qaeda was spawned in the late stages of the Soviet-Afghan War. • Osama bin Laden, the founder of the group, joined Egyptian Ayman al Zawahiri to expand the group in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan in 1996. • Al Qaeda quickly evolved into an international umbrella group, conducting large-scale attacks throughout the world.

33. Chapter Take Aways • A Western military offensive in the wake of 9-11 changed the nature of al Qaeda’s structure resulting in differing leadership hubs and a more decentralized organization. • Although some operations were tightly structured and controlled, the nature of al Qaeda changed.

34. Chapter Take Aways • Different regional groups formed in various parts of the world under the al Qaeda franchise. • Many of al Qaeda’s leaders, including bin Laden, have been killed by American attacks in Pakistan. • The group remains active mainly due to its franchised network and an alliance among Pakistani and Afghan allies.